Songs

Nachtgang

by Richard Strauss

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Text & Translation

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Nachtgang
German source: Otto Julius Bierbaum

Wir gingen durch die stille, milde Nacht, dein Arm
in meinem, dein Auge in meinem; der Mond goss
silbernes Licht über dein Angesicht; wie auf Goldgrund
ruhte dein schönes Haupt, und du erschienst mir wie
eine Heilige: mild, mild und gross, und seelenübervoll,
heilig und rein wie die liebe Sonne. Und in die Augen
schwoll mir ein warmer Drang, wie Tränenahnung.
Fester fasst’ ich dich und küsste—küsste dich ganz
leise,—meine Seele weinte.

A walk at night
English translation © Richard Stokes

We walked through the gentle silent night, your arm
in mine, your eyes gazing into mine; the moon shed
silver light over your face; as though on gold
your fair head lay, and you seemed to me
like a saint: gentle, gentle and great, with a brimming soul,
holy and pure like the dear sun. And a pressing
warmth welled into my eyes, like impending tears.
I held you closer and kissed you — kissed you
so gently — my soul wept.

Translation © Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)

Nachtgang
German source: Otto Julius Bierbaum

A walk at night
English source: Richard Stokes

Wir gingen durch die stille, milde Nacht, dein Arm
We walked through the gentle silent night, your arm
in meinem, dein Auge in meinem; der Mond goss
in mine, your eyes gazing into mine; the moon shed
silbernes Licht über dein Angesicht; wie auf Goldgrund
silver light over your face; as though on gold
ruhte dein schönes Haupt, und du erschienst mir wie
your fair head lay, and you seemed to me
eine Heilige: mild, mild und gross, und seelenübervoll,
like a saint: gentle, gentle and great, with a brimming soul,
heilig und rein wie die liebe Sonne. Und in die Augen
holy and pure like the dear sun. And a pressing
schwoll mir ein warmer Drang, wie Tränenahnung.
warmth welled into my eyes, like impending tears.
Fester fasst’ ich dich und küsste—küsste dich ganz
I held you closer and kissed you — kissed you
leise,—meine Seele weinte.
so gently — my soul wept.

Composer

Richard Strauss

Richard Georg Strauss was a German composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. He is particularly well-known for his operas, Lieder, and tone poems.  Read more here.

Poet

Otto Julius Bierbaum

Otto Julius Bierbaum was a German writer.

Performances

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